Buckle



BUCKLE.

Patented May 19, 1885.

N. PETERS, Phohrlilhngnphen Waxhingtnn. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 4

MELANOTHON E. ZELLER, OF BLUFFTON, OHIO.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent E0. 318,074, dated May 19,1885.

Application filed January 28, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELANOTHON E. ZELL- ER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bluffton, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trace-buckles of that class wherein the trace is clamped between the buckle-frame and a tongue-plate pivoted to the frame, and a bail adapted to be clamped between the frame and to bear on the tongue-plate.

My invention has for its object to providea trace-buckle that will admit traces of different thicknesses to be used with ease and safety, and which will be simple in construction and possess great strength and durability.

To these ends the invention consists in the particular improvements in the construction of thebuckle, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Inthe drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a trace buckle embodying my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite front views thereof. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section on the line as w of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference in the several figures denote like parts,A designates the buckle-frame, composed of side bars A A, rear cross-bar, a, and cross-bars a a, located in the horizontal portion of said bars below andforward of the said cross-bar a and in a line substantially in the same plane with each other, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, all of said parts consisting of a single casting.

To the forward end of the buckle-frame A is pivoted by a cross-bolt, b, the tongue-frame 13, consisting of side bars I) b, united at their upper ends by a plate or tongue, N, which is provided with astud or projection, b adapted to take into a series of apertures of the trace 0, which passes through the cross-bars a a of thebuckle-frame and beneath the tongue-plate,

as clearly shown. The tongue-plate projects rearwardly, forming an extension, I), which has a rounded narrow front on which is adapted to bear the cross-bar d of a bail, D, connected at its lower end to the hame-tug, E, and pass ing between the transverse bars a a of the buckle-frame A, against which it is adapted to play in its movements and to be limited thereby. The cross-bar (Z of the bail is pro vided with shoulders d on its lower surface, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, which, when strain or the draft is exerted upon the hame-tug, are adapted to abut against and have afirm bearing upon the extension I) of the tongue-plate, thus providing an effectual stop for the bail. I preferably screw-thread ue end of the cross-bolt I), and provide a screw-threaded aperture in one of the side bars of the buckle-frame to enable the said bolt to be readily removed to detach the tongue-frame when desired, the said bolt passing through and bearing in the lower forward ends of the side bars of both the buckle and tongue frames; but I do not limit myself to the cross-bolt, as the lower. ends of the side bars of either the buckle or tongue frame may have studs adapted to fit in sockets in either of the said frames. It will be observed that the trace passes above the bars a a of the buckle-frame and over the cross-bolt 12, thus providing an extended bearing therefor, and that the lower cross bar,a ,of the buckle-frame is so arranged that the side bars of the bail bear thereon when draft or strain is exerted on the hame-tug. When it is desired to adjust or remove the trace, the bail is moved to the rear, out of engagement with the tongue-plate, and the stud thereof withdrawn from the tug.

- It will be observed that I provide a simple, strong, and durable buckle, and one in which the trace can be speedily removed and another of a different size substituted therefor.

WVithout limiting myself to the exact details of construction which I have shown and described as an embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a trace-buckle, the buckle-frame'hav ing two cross-bars, a a and the tongue-frame pivoted to the forward end of said buckleframe by the cross-bolt b,and having a tongue plate provided with a stud, in combination ICO I 5 ranged between the side bars of the buckle- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 95 frame and bearing on the tongue-plate, all as in presence of two witnesses.

and for the purpose described. MELANGTHON E. ZELLER.

3. In a. trace-buckle, the combination of the XVituesses: buckle-frame consisting of curved side bars MART-IN LEFFEL,

20 A A, united at their rear ends by a cross-bur, ISAAC STAUFFER. 

